CT Scanner

Abstract

A CT scanner is described in which the data acquisition components, i.e. the radiation source and detectors, are mounted in an apertured housing which can be deployed generally vertically, for the examination of recumbent patients, or generally horizontally, for the examination of patients seated, or standing, with their torsos upright.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A CT scanner having an aperture housing containing data acquisition components for acquiring data relating to the attenuation suffered by X-radiation on traversing each of many substantially linear paths across a cross-sectional slice of a patient's body, a support structure supporting said housing and moving means for moving said housing relative to said support structure, said moving means disposing said housing with its aperture either generally vertical, to receive a recumbent patient, or generally horizontal, to receive an upright patient. 
     
     
       2. A scanner according to claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises a yoke and a pair of side arms supported by said yoke, said side arms bearing at their unsupported ends, rotatable support members, and said apertured housing being spported by said support members. 
     
     
       3. A scanner according to claim 2 wherein said support structure further includes a base unit, and a pair of uprights secured to said base unit, and wherein said yoke encloses said uprights. 
     
     
       4. A scanner according to claim 3 including control means for moving said yoke up and down relative to said uprights. 
     
     
       5. A scanner according to claim 4 wherein said control means includes a motor, a pair of machine screws, rotatable but otherwise fixed in relation to said uprights, co-operating with travelling nuts which are captive relative to said yoke, and drive transmitter means for transmitting the motor drive in parallel to said machine screws. 
     
     
       6. A scanner according to claim 2 wherein said means for moving comprises a motor driven chain mechanism mounted in one of said side arms and disposing the respective rotatable support members associated with said side arm. 
     
     
       7. A scanner according to claim 6 wherein said means for moving further includes a fail-safe brake unit mounted in the other of said arms and coupled to the rotatable support member associated with said other arm. 
     
     
       8. A scanner according to claim 1 including a laser unit, supported by said housing, positioned to project a desired light pattern on the patient's body. 
     
     
       9. A CT scanner as in claim 1 in which said means for moving the housing comprise means for selectively moving said housing relative to said support structure both vertically and rotationally. 
     
     
       10. A CT scanner including a housing part formed with an aperture dimensioned to accommodate a patient's body, said housing part containing a radiation source and an associated detector unit for the acquisition of measurements of the amounts of radiation transmitted from the source, across a cross-sectional slice of the patient's body, to the detector unit along many substantially linear paths in the plane of the slice, the source at least being capable of angular movement around the patient's body about an axis which intersects said slice and extends generally longitudinally of the patient's body, a support structure supporting said housing part for pivotal movement, about a second axis substantially parallel to said slice and substantially orthogonal to the first-mentioned axis, and moving means effecting said pivotal motion and causing, prior to the patient being disposed in said aperture, the housing part selectively to assume one of two pivotal conditions, one of said conditions accommodating recumbent patents and the other of said conditions accommodating upright patients.